Mock Star's Ball

Rejoice, because it's time for the return of one of the Southern's most inspired events to date, the pageant of tribute shows in which bands celebrate Halloween by pretending to be other bands. The first night's most inspired pairing is certainly The Invisible Hand taking on the Beastie Boys, but Hunter Smith as Springsteen and Astronomers as the Smashing Pumpkins also both sound promising. You'd be a fool, however, to skip Saturday's show, in which blues guitarist Eli Cook takes on Nirvana, a far cry from the far more predictable Hendrix idolatry in his recent past. Alas, no sign of Barling and Collins taking on DMB, however. Maybe next year...